Customers line up to take advantage of lower priced gas at Costco in Torrance before the holiday weekend. Wednesday, July 2, 2014. (Brad Graverson / Staff Photographer)

Determined not to let sectarian violence in Iraq affect their vacation plans, more Southern Californians are hitting the road this Independence Day weekend than in 2013.

News that militants captured Iraq’s second city and established a caliphate bent on global jihad has caused uncertainty in the oil industry and slight discomfort for Americans at the pump.

Nevertheless, the Automobile Club of Southern California estimates 2.88 million Southern Californians will travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend, up 1.5 percent from last year, while Los Angeles International Airport is expecting a 6 percent bump in airline passengers.

“There’s a little more willingness to spend on travel,” Auto Club spokeswoman Marie Montgomery said. “During the recession and afterwards, people really wanted to save up and pay cash for their trip. Now there’s a greater willingness to use their credit card.”

A month ago, AAA predicted gas prices would fall 10 to 15 cents a gallon this summer, but then the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria captured large swaths of northern Iraq, prompting big sellers of petroleum to hold on to their product until events in the Middle East calm down, an analyst at the gas price monitor GasBuddy.com said in a report.

Production issues at Southern California refineries also have prompted the price increase, the report said.

Despite recent price hikes, the first half of 2014 has boasted the lowest gas price averages since 2010, according to GasBuddy. Still, the Auto Club recommends people fill up early, as prices are expected to rise.

The No. 1 Independence Day destination for Southern Californians is San Diego, according to an Auto Club survey of local travel agents. Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and San Francisco were the next most popular locales.

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Nationally, 41 million people are expected to travel over the weekend, up from 40 million last year.

Nearly 80 percent of Southern California travelers will be in their cars this weekend, even though the average gas price for the Los Angeles/Long Beach area is $4.20, the highest Fourth of July weekend price since 2008.

At LAX, officials expect more than 820,000 people will pass through its gates today through Sunday, reflecting a 6 percent increase over last year. LAX officials urged passengers to show up extra early, as construction related to a multibillion-dollar modernization project will cause delays in getting to the curb. Officials also remind passengers that fireworks will not be allowed on planes, even if they are in checked baggage.

Drought and summertime heat already have Southern California firefighters on edge. And fireworks — both illegal as well as the “safe-and-sane” variety — create even more fire danger over the holiday. Fire authorities advise vacationers planning to use “safe-and-sane” fireworks to ensure they are legal wherever they are and to have a water hose or fire extinguisher handy.

The California Highway Patrol has declared the three-day weekend a “maximum enforcement period” and is deploying extra officers across the state to make sure people drive safe and sober.

Officer Kevin Tao of CHP’s Southern Division encouraged travelers to pack extra water and prescription medication, in case of a breakdown. He also suggested people get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel.

“A drowsy driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver,” Tao said.

Alcohol may help road-weary travelers tolerate their in-laws, but Tao said obnoxious family members do not provide a valid excuse to drive drunk.

During the 2013 Independence Day weekend, 56 people were killed in collisions throughout California, according to CHP statistics. In 70 percent of those deaths, travelers were not wearing seat belts.

The fact that the Fourth of July falls on a Friday means more people are renting RVs, said Natalie Schueren, a rental agent at the Cruise America RV facility in Carson. Schueren said her fleet of 250 RVs is nearly sold out for the three-day weekend.

The cheapest time to rent an RV is between Labor Day and March, when prices dip as low as $59 per night, Schueren said. The daily rate jumps to as much as $250 during the summer.

Linda York, owner of the Beach Hut Bed and Breakfast in San Diego, was not surprised to learn that San Diego is the go-to spot for Southern Californians. Her bed and breakfast, which is located between downtown San Diego and La Jolla, is booked through October.

York said she does get some “staycationers” from the Los Angeles area, but most of her guests tend to come from overseas. Lots of Brits, Australians and Canadians and — more recently — travelers from Asia.

“It’s been a great year,” York said. “Once you’re No. 1 on Trip Advisor, you get lots of calls.”